Touch panel and display device including the same

ABSTRACT

A display device includes: a plurality of first electrode patterns; a plurality of second electrode patterns; a plurality of first touch signal lines; and a plurality of second touch signal lines. The plurality of first electrode patterns respectively include a plurality of first electrode cells physically separated from each other and arranged in a first direction. The plurality of second electrode patterns include a plurality of second electrode cells physically separated from each other and arranged in a second direction crossing the first direction. The plurality of first touch signal lines are connected to the first electrode cells. The plurality of second touch signal lines are connected to the second electrode cells. The first and second electrode patterns and the first and second touch signal lines are all positioned at the same layer on a substrate. The first touch signal lines are independently connected to each first electrode cell.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2014-0030527 filed in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office on Mar. 14, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Technical Field

The present application relates to a touch panel including a touchsensor and a display device including the same.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A flat panel display (FPD), such as an organic light emitting diode(OLED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and an electrophoreticdisplay (EPD) includes a field generating electrode and anelectro-optical active layer. As the electro-optical active layer, theorganic light emitting diode display includes an organic emission layer,the liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal layer, and theelectrophoretic display includes particles having a charge. The fieldgenerating electrode may receive a data signal by being connected to aswitching element, such as a thin film transistor, and theelectro-optical active layer displays an image by converting the datasignal into an optical signal.

Recently, the display device has included a touch sensing function aswell as the function for displaying the image such that it is capable ofinteraction with a user. A touch sensing function determines whether auser finger, etc., touches a screen, and touch position informationthereof, by sensing a change of pressure, light, etc., that occurs on ascreen in the display device when the user contacts the finger or atouch pen to the screen to write a character or to draw a picture. Thedisplay device may receive an image signal based on the touchinformation.

The touch sensing function may be realized by a touch sensor including atouch electrode. For example, in the capacitance type of touch sensor, aplurality of touch electrodes are connected to each other therebyforming a plurality of touch electrode rows and a plurality of touchelectrode columns that are insulated from each other, and a drivingsignal is applied to each touch electrode row and each touch electrodecolumn through a touch signal line. The touch sensor may drive the touchelectrode rows and the touch electrode columns by a method using mutualcapacitance formed between the touch electrode row and the touchelectrode column, or a method using self-capacitance independentlyformed by the touch electrode rows and the touch electrode columns,respectively. However, when driving the touch sensor forming the touchelectrode row and the touch electrode column by the connection of thetouch electrode with the self-capacitance type, the touch sensor isdriven by a unit of the electrode row and the electrode column, not theelectrode unit, such that a multi-touch is not sensed by a ghost touch.The ghost touch may be understood as a position or positions on a touchpanel to which no actual touch is applied, yet can be recognized by thetouch sensor as having been touched.

On the other hand, the touch electrode row and the touch electrodecolumn may be formed of a single layer or a plurality of layers. In thecase of the single layer, as the touch signal lines are generally formedas numerous as the touch electrodes, an area of the touch electrodes isinevitably limited by a region occupied by the touch signal lines, andtherefore touch sensitivity may also be limited.

A panel in which the touch sensor is formed is referred to as a touchpanel (also as a touch sensor panel, a touch screen panel, etc.), andthe display panel having the touch sensor function is also referred toas a touch panel.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only forenhancement of understanding of the background and therefore it maycontain information that does not form the prior art that is alreadyknown in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

Embodiments provide a touch panel capable of being driven as a mutualcapacitance type and a self-capacitance type and including touch sensorshaving electrode patterns capable of sensing a multi-touch in both themutual capacitance type and self-capacitance type, and a display deviceincluding the touch panel.

One embodiment provides a touch panel including a touch sensor capableof reducing a number of touch signal lines and a display deviceincluding the same.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes: aplurality of first electrode patterns; a plurality of second electrodepatterns; a plurality of first touch signal lines; and a plurality ofsecond touch signal lines. The plurality of first electrode patternsrespectively include a plurality of first electrode cells physicallyseparated from each other and arranged in a first direction. Theplurality of second electrode patterns include a plurality of secondelectrode cells physically separated from each other and arranged in asecond direction crossing the first direction. The plurality of firsttouch signal lines are connected to the first electrode cells. Theplurality of second touch signal lines are connected to the secondelectrode cells. The first and second electrode patterns and the firstand second touch signal lines are all positioned at the same layer on asubstrate. The first touch signal lines are independently connected toeach first electrode cell.

A first electrode cell and a second electrode cell adjacent in the firstdirection may form a mutual capacitance type of touch sensor, and eachfirst electrode cell may form a self-capacitance type of touch sensor.

Each first electrode pattern may include m, where m is an integer largerthan 1, first electrode cells, and the m first electrode cells may beconnected to m first touch signal lines with a one-on-one correspondencerelationship.

The second electrode cells included in the different second electrodepatterns may be connected substantially in the second direction by thesecond touch signal lines.

Each first electrode cell may form a pair along with n, where n is aninteger larger than 1, adjacent second electrode cells, and the secondelectrode cells of a first group forming a pair along with any one firstelectrode cell may be connected to the second electrode cells of asecond group forming a pair along with the first electrode cell adjacentto the any one first electrode cell in the second direction by n secondtouch signal lines with a one-on-one correspondence relationship.

The second electrode cells of the first group and the second electrodecells of the second group may be connected while forming the pairs in asequence close to each other.

The second electrode cells included in each second electrode pattern maybe electrically connected.

The second electrode cells included in each second electrode pattern maybe detachably electrically connected.

The first and second electrode patterns and first and second touchsignal lines may be formed of a transparent conductive material, aconductive nanowire, or a metal mesh.

A display device according to an exemplary embodiment includes: adisplay panel including a plurality of pixels; a touch panel including aplurality of touch sensors; a display controller controlling the displaypanel; and a touch sensor controller controlling the touch panel. Thetouch panel includes: a plurality of first electrode patterns; aplurality of second electrode patterns; a plurality of first touchsignal lines; and a plurality of second touch signal lines. Theplurality of first electrode patterns are arranged in a first directionand include a plurality of first electrode cells physically separatedfrom each other. The plurality of second electrode patterns are arrangedin a second direction crossing the first direction and include aplurality of second electrode cells physically separated from eachother. The plurality of first touch signal lines are connected to thefirst electrode cells. The plurality of second touch signal lines areconnected to the second electrode cells. The first and second electrodepatterns and the first and second touch signal lines are all positionedat the same layer on a substrate. The first touch signal lines areindependently connected to each first electrode cell.

A first electrode cell and a second electrode cell adjacent in the firstdirection may form a mutual capacitance type of touch sensor, and eachfirst electrode cell may form a self-capacitance type of touch sensor.

Each first electrode pattern may include m, where m is an integer largerthan 1, first electrode cells, and the m first electrode cells may beconnected to m first touch signal lines with a one-on-one correspondencerelationship.

The second electrode cells included in the different second electrodepatterns may be connected substantially in the second direction by thesecond touch signal lines.

Each first electrode cell may form a pair along with n, where n is aninteger larger than 1, adjacent second electrode cells, and the secondelectrode cells of a first group forming a pair along with any one firstelectrode cell may be connected to the second electrode cells of asecond group forming a pair along with the first electrode cell adjacentto the any one first electrode cell in the second direction by n secondtouch signal lines with a one-on-one correspondence relationship.

The second electrode cells of the first group and the second electrodecells of the second group may be connected while forming the pairs in asequence close to each other.

The second electrode cells included in each second electrode pattern maybe electrically connected.

A switching part capable of electrically disconnecting the secondelectrode cells included in each second electrode pattern may be furtherincluded.

The first and second electrode patterns and first and second touchsignal lines may be formed of a transparent conductive material, aconductive nanowire, or a metal mesh.

The touch panel according to one embodiment may be driven as the mutualcapacitance type and the self-capacitance type, and the two types mayboth sense the multi-touch.

Also, in the structure in which the touch electrodes and the touchsignal lines are formed at one layer, the number of the touch signallines may be reduced such that a region of the touch electrodes may beincreased, and as a result, touch sensitivity may be improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a touch panel according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5 are views showing a portion of a touch panelaccording to several exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a touch sensor and a touch sensorcontroller according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a layout view of a display device including a touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, only certain exemplaryembodiments have been shown and described, simply by way ofillustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the describedembodiments may be modified in various different ways, all withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the inventive concept.

In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc.,are exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate likeelements throughout the specification. It will be understood that whenan element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to asbeing “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element orintervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an elementis referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are nointervening elements present. Meanwhile, although reference numeralsdescribed in the specification are all not shown in drawings, thecorrespondence between reference numerals in the specification andconstituents in the drawings will be easily and clearly understandableby those skilled in the art from a regularity of the reference numeralsdescribed in the drawings.

A touch panel including a touch sensor according to an exemplaryembodiment will now be described with reference to accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a touch panel 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an exemplary arrangement of constituentelements of the touch panel 10, but does not reflect an actual shape, aconnection relationship, or a number of constituent elements.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch panel 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment includes a plurality of electrode patterns A and B forming atouch sensor sensing a contact of an external object such as a finger ora pen. The electrode patterns A and B may be formed at an outer surfaceof a substrate forming a display panel displaying an image (an on-celltype), or may be formed inside the display panel (an in-cell type).Also, the electrode patterns A and B may be formed at a separatesubstrate made of a transparent insulator such as glass or plastic, andmay be attached to the display panel (an add-on type).

The first electrode pattern A and the second electrode pattern B arephysically and electrically separated. The first electrode pattern A andthe second electrode pattern B are formed at the same layer and areformed in the touch region of the touch panel 10. Here, the touch regionmeans a region sensing the contact or the movement as the touch area ina case that the object is hovering in a state that the object is closeor accesses (a non-contact touch) as well as a case that the objectdirectly contacts the touch panel 10 (a contact touch). The touch regionmay overlap the display area where the image is actually displayed inthe display panel, or may approximately accord with it.

The first electrode patterns A are arranged in a horizontal direction.Each first electrode pattern A includes a plurality of first electrodecells a11, a12, . . . , a21, a22, . . . , sometimes called touchelectrodes, arranged in a vertical direction. The second electrodepatterns B are arranged in the vertical direction. Each second electrodepattern B includes a plurality of second electrode cells b111, b211, . .. , b112, b212, . . . , sometimes called touch electrodes, arranged inthe horizontal direction.

In a view of the electrode cell, the first electrode cells a11, . . .are arranged in a matrix direction and the second electrode cells b111,. . . are also arranged in a matrix direction. The second electrodecells b111, b112, and b113 are disposed between the first electrodecells a11 and a21 adjacent in the horizontal direction, and the firstelectrode cell a21 is positioned between the second electrode cells b111and b211 adjacent in the horizontal direction. Accordingly, the firstelectrode cell and the second electrode cell are alternately disposedone by one in the horizontal direction. According to the exemplaryembodiment, in the horizontal direction, the first electrode cell andthe second electrode cell may be alternately disposed two by two. On theother hand, the second electrode cell is not positioned between thefirst electrode cells a11 and a12 adjacent in the vertical direction,and the first electrode cell is not positioned between the secondelectrode cells b111 and b112 adjacent in the vertical direction.

In the drawing, for easy differentiation of the first electrode cell andthe second electrode cell, the first electrode cell is indicated by arectangle and the second electrode cell is indicated by a circle,however a shape of the electrode cells is not limited thereto and theshape may be various. For example, the first and second electrode cellsmay be the rectangle, and they may have a protrusion to improvesensitivity of the touch sensor. Also, the first electrode cells mayhave different sizes according to the position and the second electrodecells are also the same.

The first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . of the first electrode patternA and the second electrode cells b111, b112, b113, b121, b122, b123, . .. adjacent thereto in the horizontal direction form a touch sensor of amutual capacitance type. At this time, the touch sensor controller 700may sense the position of an X axis on the touch panel 10 by using thesecond electrode pattern B, and the position of a y axis on the touchpanel 10 by using the first electrode pattern A. The combination of thefirst electrode cells and the second electrode cells forming the mutualcapacitance type of touch sensor is indicated by columns C1, C2, . . .in the drawing, and a number of the columns corresponds to a number ofthe first electrode patterns A or a number of the second electrode cellsincluded in one second electrode pattern B.

In each column, nodes of a number corresponding to the number of thesecond electrode cells may exist. Here, the node means a unit of aposition combination that may be differentiated from each other whengenerating the position information by the mutual capacitance type. Ineach column, one of the first electrode cells a11; a12; . . . maycorrespond to a plurality of second electrode cells b111, b112, b113;b121, b122, b123; . . . . FIG. 1 shows an example of five groups of thefirst electrode cell and the second electrode cells having the abovecorrelation in each column. Also, FIG. 1 shows an example in which onefirst electrode cell corresponds to three second electrode cells, and inthis case, three nodes may be generated in one first electrode cell.

The first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . ; a21, a22, . . . ; . . .respectively form a self-capacitance type of touch sensor. At this time,the touch sensor controller 700 may sense the position of the x axis andthe position of the y axis on the touch panel 10 from each firstelectrode cell. According to an exemplary embodiment, the secondelectrode cells b111, b211, . . . ; b112, b212, . . . ; . . . may alsoform the self-capacitance type of touch sensor separately or incombination.

In each column C1, C2, . . . , first touch signal lines la1, la2, . . .connected to the first electrode cells are positioned at a side of thefirst electrode cells, and second touch signal lines lb1, lb2, . . .connected to the second electrode cells are positioned at a side of thesecond electrode cells. These first and second touch signal lines areformed at the same layer as the first and second electrode cells and arepositioned in the touch region of the touch panel 10. However, the touchsignal lines positioned rightmost and leftmost may be positioned nearthe touch region. The detailed connection of the first and secondelectrode cells and the first and second touch signal lines will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4.

To avoid complicated drawings, in FIG. 1, one first touch signal line isshown per column, however the first touch signal lines of the numbercorresponding to the number of the first electrode cells may bepositioned. One second touch signal line is shown per column, however aplurality of second touch signal lines may be positioned. Accordingly,the area of the electrode patterns A and B is limited by the regionoccupied by the first and second touch signal lines. In other words, asthe area of the touch signal lines is increased, the area of theelectrode patterns is decreased such that the touch sensitivity may bedeteriorated. On the other hand, in FIG. 1, the first touch signal linesla1, la2, . . . are disposed at the left of the first electrode cellconnected thereto, and the second touch signal lines (lb1, lb2, . . .are disposed at the right of the second electrode cell connectedthereto, however this does not limit the position of the first andsecond touch signal lines. For example, the first touch signal line maybe positioned at the right of the first electrode cell connectedthereto, and a portion thereof may be positioned at the left and therest thereof may be positioned at the right.

The first electrode pattern, the second electrode pattern, the firsttouch signal line, and the second touch signal line may be formed at thesame layer. They may be formed of a transparent conductive oxide (TCO)such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and indium zinc oxide (IZO), a conductivenanowire such as silver nanowire (AgNW), or a metal mesh. For example,indium tin oxide (ITO) is deposited and patterned on the substrate tosimultaneously form the first and second electrode patterns and thefirst and second touch signal lines.

The first and second touch signal lines are connected to the touchsensor controller 700 through wires (not shown) that may be positionedwithin a sensor circuit 20. Accordingly, the first and second electrodecells may receive a touch signal such as a sensing input signal from thetouch sensor controller 700 through the first and second touch signallines, and may transmit the touch signal such as a sensing output signalto the touch sensor controller 700. The sensor circuit 20 may be formednear the touch region of the touch panel 10, or may be formed at aseparate printed circuit board (PCB) or a flexible printed circuit board(FPCB). The touch sensor controller 700 may be positioned in the sensorcircuit 20, or may be positioned outside of the sensor circuit 20 to beconnected to the sensor circuit 20 through the flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB).

Next, a connection of the touch signal line will be described in detailwith reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5.

FIG. 2 to FIG. 5 are views of a portion of a touch panel according toseveral exemplary embodiments.

Firstly, FIG. 2, the columns C1, C2, . . . including the first electrodecells and the second electrode cells, and the first touch signal linesand the second touch signal lines connected thereto, are shown. In thetouch panel 10, the columns C1, C2, . . . of a predetermined numberexist with the same pattern in the horizontal direction. The arrangementof the first and second electrode patterns A and B is substantially thesame as that shown in FIG. 1, however the first electrode cells a11,a12, . . . , a1 n; a21, a22, . . . , a2 n are disposed in the verticaldirection by the n number.

In the first column C1, the first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . , a1 nof one first electrode pattern A and the second electrode cells b111,b112, . . . , b1 n 3 of the different second electrode patterns B aredisposed. Also, in the first column C1, the first touch signal linesla11, la12, . . . , la1 n are connected to the first electrode cellsa11, a12, . . . , a1 n, and the second touch signal lines lb11, lb12,lb13 are connected to the second electrode cells b111, b112, . . . , b1n 3. These arrangement and connection are equally applied to the secondcolumn C2, . . . . That is, in the second column C2, the first electrodecells a21, a22, . . . , a2 n of one first electrode pattern A, thesecond electrode cells b211, b212, . . . , b2 n 3 of the differentsecond electrode patterns B, the first touch signal lines la21, la22, .. . , la2 n, and the second touch signal lines lb21, lb22, lb23 aredisposed, the first touch signal lines are connected to the firstelectrode cells, and the second touch signal lines are connected to thesecond electrode cells. Next, the connection of the touch signal lineswill be described with respect to the first column C1, unless otherwisespecifically stated, the same description may also be applied to theother columns C2, . . . .

The first touch signal lines la11, la12, . . . , la1 n are individuallyconnected to the first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . , a1 n.Accordingly, the n first touch signal lines exist by the number of thefirst electrode cells within the first column C1. The first touch signallines la11, la12, . . . , la1 n may be positioned within the touchregion and substantially extend in the vertical direction. In thedrawing, the first touch signal lines la11, la12, . . . , la1 n are allextended downward, however according to an exemplary embodiment, theymay be extended upward, or a portion thereof may be extended downwardand the rest thereof may be extended upward.

The first touch signal lines la11, la12, . . . , la1 n may beindividually connected to the touch sensor controller 700 through thesensor circuit. Accordingly, the first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . ,a1 n may individually receive the sensing input signal Tx driving themfrom the touch sensor controller 700, and may individually output asensing output signal Rx that is changed according to the touchexistence for the touch region where the first electrode cells a11, a12,. . . , a1 n are positioned. This means that each of the first electrodecells a11, a12, . . . , a1 n function as the self-capacitance type oftouch sensor. Also, since the first electrode cells a11, a12, . . . , a1n are independently driven such that the touch sensor controller 700 mayreceive the sensing output signal Rx from each of the first electrodecells a11, a12, . . . , a1 n, when a touch of a plurality of positionsoccurs, that is, a multi-touch is generated, the multi-touch may besensed by calculating the positions (coordinates) of the first electrodecell sensing the touch of the corresponding position.

The n second electrode cells may be disposed close to each firstelectrode cell, and in the drawing, three second electrode cells aredisposed, as one example. For example, the second electrode cells b111,b112, and b113 of a first group are disposed close to the 1st firstelectrode cell a11, and the second electrode cells b121, b122, and b123of the second group are disposed close to the 2nd first electrode cella12, and by this method, the second electrode cells bln1, bln2, and bln3of the n-th group are disposed close to the n-th first electrode cellsa1 n.

When each group includes three second electrode cells, three secondtouch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13 are connected to the secondelectrode cell of each group. However, differently from the case of thefirst electrode cell, the second touch signal lines are not individuallyconnected, but they are connected in a pair between the second electrodecells of the groups adjacent in the vertical direction. That is, the 1stsecond electrode cell bill of the first group is connected to the 3rdsecond electrode cell b123 of the second group through the second touchsignal line lb11, and the 3rd second electrode cell b123 of the secondgroup is connected to the 1st second electrode cell b131 of the thirdgroup, and this connection is continued to the 1st or 3rd secondelectrode cell bln1 or bln3 of the n group. The 2nd second electrodecell b112 of the second group is connected to the 2nd electrode cellsb122-bln2 of the second to n-th group through the second touch signalline lb12. The 3rd second electrode cell b113 of the first group isconnected to the 1st second electrode cell b121 of the second group andthe 3rd second electrode cell b133 of the third group through the secondtouch signal line lb13, and this connection is continued to the 3rd or1st electrode cells bln3 or bln1 of the n-th group. Resultantly, in thefirst column C1, three second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13are only connected to the touch region and are connected to the touchsensor controller 700 through the sensor circuit.

When each group includes the n second electrode cells, the n secondtouch signal lines are disposed and connected. Accordingly, when the nfirst electrode cells (accordingly, the n groups) are disposed in eachcolumn and the m second electrode cells are disposed in each group, n+mtouch signal lines are disposed in each column and n*m nodes aregenerated. These are the same as the number of the second electrodecells positioned in each column.

In each group, the second electrode cells b111, b121, . . . , b1 n 1;b112, b122, . . . , b1 n 2; . . . of the same order to each other arenot connected but are connected while forming the pairs b113, b121;b112, b122; b113, b121 into the close sequence in the adjacent groups tonot cross the second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13 such that ashort is not generated therebetween. Accordingly, when each groupincludes the n second electrode cells, for example, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd,and n-th second electrode cells of the first group are respectivelyconnected to the n-th, (n−1)-th, (n−2)-th, and 1st second electrodecells of the second group.

The second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13 are alternatelypositioned at the right and left of the electrode cells when connectingthe second electrode cells of the adjacent groups. For example, asshown, when connecting the second electrode cells b111, b112, and b113of the first group and the second electrode cells b121, b122, and b123of the second group, the second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13are positioned at the left of the second electrode cells, and whenconnecting the second electrode cells b121, b122, and b123 of the secondgroup and the second electrode cells b131, b132, and b133 of the thirdgroup, the second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13 are positionedat the right of the second electrode cells, and this is repeated untilcompleting the connection of the second electrode cell of the n-thgroup. On the other hand, the second touch signal lines may be connectedby a shortest distance (i.e., is not positioned at the left or the rightof the second electrode cells, but is positioned between two secondelectrode cells in a straight line) when connecting the closest secondelectrode cells (for example: b113, b121) between the adjacent groups.

In the first column C1, the first electrode cell and the secondelectrode cell adjacent thereto form the mutual capacitance type oftouch sensor. For this, the second electrode cell may receive thesensing input signal Tx through the second touch signal lines lb11,lb12, and lb13, and the first electrode cell may output the sensingoutput signal Rx through the first touch signal lines la11, la12, . . ., la1 n. The second electrode cells included in the different groups areconnected to by the second touch signal line, for example, if thesensing input signal Tx is input through the second touch signal linelb11, the sensing input signal Tx is simultaneously input to the secondelectrode cells b111, b123, b131, . . . of each group. However, sincethe n first electrode cells forming the pairs along with the secondelectrode cells of each group are disposed and the first touch signalline is individually connected for the first electrode cell, the firstelectrode cell outputting the sensing output signal Rx that is changedby the touch and the second electrode cell forming the pair along withthe first electrode cell are specified to sense the position of the xaxis and the multi-touch.

The arrangement and the connection relationship of the first and secondelectrode cells and the first and second touch signal lines in thesecond column C2 is the same as the case of the above-described firstcolumn C1. However, in relation to the first column C1, the second touchsignal lines lb21, lb22, and lb23 in the second column C2 may beconnected to the second touch signal lines lb11, lb12, and lb13 in thefirst column C1 through three bus lines BL (when the second touch signallines are m, the m bus lines) of a sensing circuit. Although not shown,the second touch signal lines of the other columns are the same. Bythis, the second electrode cells b111, b211, . . . ; b112, b212, . . . ;positioned at the same row are electrically connected to each otherthereby forming one second electrode pattern B. Accordingly, if thesensing input signal Tx is applied to any one second touch signal line,the sensing input signal Tx is input to all second electrode cellsconnected to the corresponding second touch signal lines. In otherwords, when the sensing input signal Tx is input to any one secondelectrode cell of the specified second electrode pattern B, the sensinginput signal Tx is also input to all other second electrode cells of thecorresponding second electrode pattern B.

On the other hand, according to an exemplary embodiment, the secondelectrode cells may be driven to form the self-capacitance type of touchsensor. In this case, the second touch signal line may be used totransmit the sensing input signal Tx and the sensing output signal Rxfor the driving of the self-capacitance type.

FIG. 3 is another exemplary embodiment like the exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 2, except for the arrangement of the first touch signal line.Referring to differences, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, thefirst touch signal line is only disposed at one side of the firstelectrode pattern A, however in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, thefirst touch signal lines are disposed at both sides of the firstelectrode pattern A. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, in the secondcolumn C2, the first touch signal lines la21, la22, . . . may bealternately disposed in the right and left for every one of the adjacentfirst electrode cells a21, a22, . . . .

In this case, since the distance for the second electrode cells b111,b112, . . . disposed in the first column C1 adjacent thereto isrelatively close, the first electrode cells a21, a22, . . . of thesecond column C2 may form the mutual capacitance type of touch sensoralong with the second electrode cells b111, b112, . . . of the firstcolumn C1. Accordingly, compared with the exemplary embodiment of FIG.2, without increasing the number of electrode cells or the number oftouch signal lines, the number of nodes may be increased.

FIG. 4 is another exemplary embodiment having a different arrangementand number of second touch signal lines and number of bus lines BL fromthe exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2. For example, in the first column C1,the second touch signal lines lb111, lb112, lb113, lb121, lb122, lb123 .. . are individually connected to each of the second electrode cellsb111, b112, b113, b121, b122, b123, . . . . Accordingly, in theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the number of the second touch signallines are disposed corresponding to the number of the second electrodecells. Accordingly, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, the number ofsecond touch signal lines is larger than that of the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 2. That is, when each group includes the m secondelectrode cells, the number of touch signal lines in the column is n+nm.However, when the second electrode cell is driven with theself-capacitance type, there is a merit that ghost touch coordinates orghost positions are not created in the same column. Herein, the ghosttouch may mean a position or positions on a touch panel to which noactual touch is applied, yet can be recognized by the touch sensor ashaving been touched.

In FIG. 5, compared with the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, switchesSW1, SW2, . . . are disposed between the bus lines BL and the secondtouch signal lines. The switches SW1, SW2, . . . may connect ordisconnect the bus lines BL and the second touch signal lines, and maybe selectively operated. To form the switches is easy when the secondelectrode cell is driven with the self-capacitance type. For example, ata predetermined time, if the first switch SW1 only connects the buslines BL and the second touch signal lines of the first column C1 andthe other switches SW2, . . . disconnect the bus lines BL and the secondtouch signal lines of the other columns C2, . . . , the second electrodecells of the first column C1 are not electrically connected to thesecond electrode cells of the other columns C2, . . . . Accordingly,when the second electrode cell is driven with the self-capacitance type,the ghost touch coordinates are not generated in the other columns C2, .. . where the second touch signal line is disconnected from the buslines BL by the switches SW2, . . . . When the switch that is driven asdescribed above is combined to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4, it ispossible for each second electrode cell to be independently driven, andaccordingly, the ghost touch signal is not generated when the secondelectrode cell is driven with the self-capacitance type. The switchesSW1, SW2, . . . may be positioned inside the sensing circuit, and may becontrolled by the touch sensor controller 700.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a touch sensor and a touch sensorcontroller according to an exemplary embodiment.

As described above, basically, the first electrode cells of the firstelectrode pattern A form the self-capacitance type of touch sensor andcombine the second electrode cells of the second electrode pattern B toform the mutual capacitance type of touch sensor. Accordingly, the touchsensor in accordance with one embodiment is driven with theself-capacitance type and the mutual capacitance type, and for example,the former may be used to sense the non-contact contact and the lattermay be used to sense the contact touch.

Now, for the mutual capacitor type, a case that that the sensing inputsignal Tx is input to the second electrode cells and the sensing outputsignal Rx is output from first electrode cells will be described. Thesensing input signal Tx may have various waveforms and voltage levels,and for example, may include a pulse that is periodically output, or atleast two different voltage levels. A DC voltage may be applied to thefirst electrode cells. For example, the sensing input signal Tx may be asquare wave that is swing from about 0 V to about 3 V, and the DCvoltage may be about 1.5 V. Although the DC voltage is applied to thefirst electrode cells, the voltage of the first electrode cells ischanged by the coupling of the swing sensing input signal Tx and isoutput as the sensing output signal Rx. Since the first electrode celland the second electrode cell form the mutual capacitor Cm, if the touchsuch as the finger or the pen is generated, the charge amount charged tothe mutual capacitor Cm is changed by the potential difference betweenthe first electrode cell and the second electrode cell. As a result, awidth of the voltage change of the sensing output signal Rx is changed.The touch sensor controller 700 receives and processes the sensingoutput signal Rx having this change, thereby generating the touchinformation such as the touch existence and the touch position. Thetouch sensor controller 700 may include a plurality of amplifiers APconnected to the touch signal line. The amplifier AP may include acapacitor Cv connected to an inversion terminal (−) and an outputterminal. A non-inversion terminal (+) of the amplifier AP is connectedto a predetermined voltage such as a ground voltage, and the inversionterminal (−) of the amplifier AP is connected to the sensing outputsignal line. The amplifier AP as a current integrator integrates thesensing output signal Rx during a predetermined time (e.g., 1 frame) togenerate the touch information signal Vout. According to an exemplaryembodiment, the sensing input signal Tx may be input to the firstelectrode cell, and the sensing output signal Rx may be output from thesecond electrode cell.

In the case of the self-capacitance type, like the mutual capacitancetype, for example, a self-capacitor Cs that may be formed along with thecommon electrode of the pixel is used, not a capacitor that may beformed by the first electrode cell and the adjacent second electrodecell. Accordingly, differently from the mutual capacitor Cmsubstantially formed in the horizontal direction, the self-capacitor Csis substantially formed in the vertical direction. Also, the first touchcell receives the sensing input signal Tx and outputs the sensing outputsignal Rx. The sensing input signal Tx may be a pulse wave that is, forexample, periodically output. If the sensing input signal Tx is appliedto the first electrode cell, the self-capacitor Cs is charged with thecharge and the first electrode cell outputs the sensing output signalRx. If the touch is not generated, since the charge amount charged tothe self-capacitor Cs is not changed, the first electrode cell outputssubstantially the same sensing output signal Rx as the sensing inputsignal Tx, however if the touch is generated, the charge is changed suchthat the sensing output signal Rx is charged. The touch sensorcontroller 700 processes this change as described above to generate thetouch information signal Vout. While the first electrode cell is drivenwith the self-capacitance type, the second electrode cell may be in aground state or a floating state, and the second electrode cell may beinput with the pulse wave. According to an exemplary embodiment, thesecond electrode cells of the second electrode pattern B may form theself-capacitance type of touch sensor independently or in combination.

The touch panel according to an exemplary embodiment may be driven toperform the touch sensing by the self-capacitor type and the touchsensing by the mutual capacitor type. For example, the first electrodecell is driven with the self-capacitance type during the first periodfor each frame, and the first and second electrode cells are driven withthe mutual capacitor type during the second period. For this, the touchsensor controller 700 transmits the sensing input signal Tx to the firstelectrode cell during the first period and receives the sensing outputsignal Rx, and transmits the sensing input signal Tx to the secondelectrode cell and receives the sensing output signal Rx from the firstelectrode cell during the second period. Simultaneously, the touchsensor controller 700 processes the sensing output signal Rx that isreceived from the first electrode cell during the first period duringthe second period to generate a first touch information signal (e.g.,the touch information signal for the non-contact touch), and processesthe sensing output signal Rx that is received from the first electrodecell during the second period during the first period to generate asecond touch information signal (e.g., the touch information signal forthe contact touch).

FIG. 7 is a layout view of a display device includes a touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, the display device including the touch panelaccording to an exemplary embodiment includes a display panel 300, agate driver 400 and a data driver 500 connected thereto, and a signalcontroller 600 controlling the gate driver 400 and the data driver 500.The display device also includes a touch panel 10 and a touch sensorcontroller 700 controlling it. The touch panel 10 may be formed orattached at an outer surface of the display panel 300, or may be formedinside the display panel 300.

The display panel 300 includes a plurality of gate lines G1-Gn and aplurality of data lines D1-Dm, and a plurality of pixels PX connectedthereto and arranged in an approximate matrix shape. The touch panel 10includes a plurality of touch signal lines T1-Tp and a plurality oftouch sensors TS connected thereto and arranged in the approximatematrix shape. The touch sensor TS is realized by the described first andsecond electrode patterns A and B.

The gate lines G1-Gn approximately extend in the horizontal direction,and may transmit a gate signal of a combination of a gate-on voltageturning on a switching element connected to each pixel PX such as a thinfilm transistor (TFT) and a gate-off voltage turning it off. The datalines D1-Dm approximately extend in the vertical direction, and transmita data voltage when the switch connected to each pixel PX is turned on.

The pixel PX is a unit displaying an image, each pixel uniquely displaysone of primary colors or a plurality of pixels alternately display threeprimary colors as time passes, and a desired color is recognized by aspatial or temporal sum of the primary colors. Each pixel PX may beapplied with the common voltage and the data voltage.

The touch signal lines T1-Tp extend in the approximate verticaldirection, and are connected to the touch sensor TS to transmit thesensing input signal Tx and the sensing output signal Rx.

The touch sensor TS is the mutual capacitance type or theself-capacitance type, and may generate the sensing output signalaccording to the touch. The touch sensor TS may receive the sensinginput signal from the touch signal lines T1-Tp, and output thecapacitance change by the touch of the external object such as thefinger or the pen as the sensing output signal through the touch signallines T1-Tp.

The signal controller 600 receives input image signals R, G, and B andthe control signal CONT thereof, that is, a horizontal synchronizingsignal Hsync, a vertical synchronization signal Vsync, a clock signalCLK, a data enable signal DE, and the like, from an external graphicsprocessor (not shown). The signal controller 600 processes the imagesignals R, G, and B to be suitable for operating conditions of thedisplay panel 300 based on the image signals R, G, and B and the controlsignal CONT, and then generates and outputs image data DAT, a gatecontrol signal CONT1, a data control signal CONT2, and a clock signal.The signal controller 600 may output a synchronization signal Sync tothe touch sensor controller 700 and receive the touch information fromthe touch sensor controller 700.

The gate control signal CONT1 includes a start pulse vertical signal STVwhich instructs a start pulse, and a clock pulse vertical signal CPVwhich is a reference of generating a gate-on voltage Von. An outputperiod of the start pulse vertical signal STV coincides with one frameor a refresh rate. The gate control signal CONT1 may further include anoutput enable signal OE which limits a sustain time of the gate-onvoltage Von.

The data control signal CONT2 includes a start pulse horizontal signalSTH which instructs transmission start of the image data DAT for thesubpixels of one row, a load signal TP which instructs application ofthe corresponding data voltage to data lines D1 to Dm, and the like. Thedata control signal CONT2 may further include an inversion signal REVwhich inverts a polarity of the data voltage with respect to a commonvoltage when the display panel 300 is a liquid crystal panel.

The gate driver 400 applies the gate signal of the gate-on voltage andthe gate-off voltage to the gate lines G1-Gn according to the gatecontrol signal CONT1.

The data driver 500 receives the data control signal CONT2 and the imagedata DAT from the signal controller 600 and converts the image data DATinto the data voltage by using a gray voltage generated from a grayvoltage generator (not shown) to apply the data voltage to the datalines D1-Dm.

The touch sensor controller 700 transmits the sensing input signal Tx tothe touch sensor TS, and receives the sensing output signal Rx from thetouch sensor TS to generate the touch information.

While the inventive concept has been described in connection with whatis presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is tobe understood that the inventive concept is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

<Description of Symbols> 10: touch panel 20: sensor circuit TS: touchsensor 300: display panel 400: gate driver 500: data driver 600: signalcontroller 700: touch sensor controller A: first electrode pattern B:second electrode pattern a11, a12, . . . : first electrode cell b111,b211, . . . : second electrode la1, la2, . . . : first touch signal linecell Rx: sensing input signal lb1, lb, . . . : second touch signal lineBL: bus line Tx: sensing output signal

What is claimed is:
 1. A touch panel comprising: a first sensing columnincluding: a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrodesequentially arranged in a column direction; a first group ofelectrodes, a second group of electrodes, and a third group ofelectrodes sequentially arranged in the column direction, wherein: thefirst group of electrodes are adjacent to the first electrode in a rowdirection, the second group of electrodes are adjacent to the secondelectrode in the row direction, and the third group of electrodes areadjacent to the third electrode in the row direction, and each group ofthe first group of electrodes, the second group of electrodes, and thethird group of electrodes includes a fourth electrode and a fifthelectrode sequentially arranged in the column direction; a first groupof signal lines electrically connecting the first group of electrodeswith the second group of electrodes; and a second group of signal lineselectrically connecting the second group of electrodes with the thirdgroup of electrodes, wherein all of the first group of signal lines aredisposed at only one side of the first to third groups of electrodes,and wherein all of the second group of signal lines are disposed at onlyanother side of the first to third groups of electrodes, wherein thefirst group of signal lines includes: a first signal line electricallyconnecting the fourth electrode of the first group of electrodes withthe fifth electrode of the second group of electrodes; and a secondsignal line electrically connecting the fifth electrode of the firstgroup of electrodes with the fourth electrode of the second group ofelectrodes.
 2. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein each electrode of thefirst group of electrodes forms a mutual capacitance type of touchsensor in combination with the first electrode, each electrode of thesecond group of electrodes forms a mutual capacitance type of touchsensor in combination with the second electrode, and each electrode ofthe third group of electrodes forms a mutual capacitance type of touchsensor in combination with the third electrode.
 3. The touch panel ofclaim 2, wherein each of the first electrode, the second electrode, andthe third electrode forms a self-capacitance type of touch sensor. 4.The touch panel of claim 2, wherein the first to third electrodes, thefirst and second groups of electrodes, and the first and second groupsof signal lines are disposed at a same layer.
 5. The touch panel ofclaim 2, further comprising: a second sensing column parallel to thefirst sensing column, the second sensing column including: a firstelectrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode sequentiallyarranged in the column direction; and a first group of electrodes, asecond group of electrodes, and a third group of electrodes sequentiallyarranged in the column direction, wherein: the first group of electrodesare adjacent to the first electrode in a row direction, the second groupof electrodes are adjacent to the second electrode in the row direction,and the third group of electrodes are adjacent to the third electrode inthe row direction, and each group of the first group of electrodes, thesecond group of electrodes, and the third group of electrodes includes afourth electrode and a fifth electrode sequentially arranged in thecolumn direction, wherein each of the fourth and fifth electrodes of thefirst to third groups of electrodes in the first sensing column isindividually electrically connected with each of the fourth and fifthelectrodes of the first to third groups of electrodes in the secondsensing column.
 6. The touch panel of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond signal lines are disposed at only one and the same side of thefirst and second groups of electrodes.
 7. The touch panel of claim 1,wherein the second group of signal lines includes: a third signal lineelectrically connecting the fourth electrode of the second group ofelectrodes with the fifth electrode of the third group of electrodes;and a fourth signal line electrically connecting the fifth electrode ofthe second group of electrodes with the fourth electrode of the thirdgroup of electrodes.
 8. The touch panel of claim 7, wherein each groupof the first group of electrodes, the second group of electrodes, andthe third group of electrodes further includes a sixth electrodedisposed between the fourth electrode and the fifth electrode, and thefirst group of signal lines further includes: a fifth signal lineelectrically connecting the sixth electrode of the first group ofelectrodes with the sixth electrode of the second group of electrodesand being disposed at only one side of the first to third groups ofelectrodes; and a sixth signal line electrically connecting the sixthelectrode of the second group of electrodes with the sixth electrode ofthe third group of electrodes and being disposed at only another side ofthe first to third groups of electrodes.
 9. The touch panel of claim 1wherein the first sensing column further includes signal lines that areindependently connected to each of the first to third electrodes.
 10. Adisplay device comprising: a display panel including a plurality ofpixels; a touch sensing unit including a plurality of touch sensors; adisplay controller controlling the display panel; and a touch sensorcontroller controlling the touch sensing unit, wherein the touch sensingunit includes: a first sensing column including: a first electrode, asecond electrode, and a third electrode sequentially arranged in acolumn direction; a first group of electrodes, a second group ofelectrodes, and a third group of electrodes sequentially arranged in thecolumn direction, wherein: the first group of electrodes are adjacent tothe first electrode in a row direction, the second group of electrodesare adjacent to the second electrode in the row direction, and the thirdgroup of electrodes are adjacent to the third electrode in the rowdirection, and each group of the first group of electrodes, the secondgroup of electrodes, and the third group of electrodes includes a fourthelectrode and a fifth electrode sequentially arranged in the columndirection; a first group of signal lines electrically connecting thefirst group of electrodes with the second group of electrodes; and asecond group of signal lines electrically connecting the second group ofelectrodes with the third group of electrodes, wherein all of the firstgroup of signal lines are disposed at only one side of the first tothird groups of electrodes, and wherein all of the second group ofsignal lines are disposed at only another side of the first to thirdgroups of electrodes, wherein the first group of signal lines includes:a first signal line electrically connecting the fourth electrode of thefirst group of electrodes with the fifth electrode of the second groupof electrodes; and a second signal line electrically connecting thefifth electrode of the first group of electrodes with the fourthelectrode of the second group of electrodes.
 11. The display device ofclaim 10, wherein each electrode of the first group of electrodes formsa mutual capacitance type of touch sensor in combination with the firstelectrode, each electrode of the second group of electrodes forms amutual capacitance type of touch sensor in combination with the secondelectrode, and each electrode of the third group of electrodes forms amutual capacitance type of touch sensor in combination with the thirdelectrode.
 12. The display device of claim 11, wherein each of the firstelectrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode forms aself-capacitance type of touch sensor.
 13. The display device of claim11, wherein the first to third electrodes, the first and second groupsof electrodes, and the first and second groups of signal lines aredisposed at a same layer.
 14. The display device of claim 11, whereinthe touch sensing unit further includes: a second sensing columnparallel to the first sensing column, the second sensing columnincluding: a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrodesequentially arranged in the column direction; and a first group ofelectrodes, a second group of electrodes, and a third group ofelectrodes sequentially arranged in the column direction, wherein: thefirst group of electrodes are adjacent to the first electrode in a rowdirection, the second group of electrodes are adjacent to the secondelectrode in the row direction, and the third group of electrodes areadjacent to the third electrode in the row direction, and each group ofthe first group of electrodes, the second group of electrodes, and thethird group of electrodes includes a fourth electrode and a fifthelectrode sequentially arranged in the column direction, wherein each ofthe fourth and fifth electrodes of the first to third groups ofelectrodes in the first sensing column is individually electricallyconnected with each of the fourth and fifth electrodes of the first tothird groups of electrodes in the second sensing column.
 15. The displaydevice of claim 10, wherein the first and second signal lines aredisposed at only one and the same side of the first and second groups ofelectrodes.
 16. The display device of claim 10, wherein the second groupof signal lines includes: a third signal line electrically connectingthe fourth electrode of the second group of electrodes with the fifthelectrode of the third group of electrodes; and a fourth signal lineelectrically connecting the fifth electrode of the second group ofelectrodes with the fourth electrode of the third group of electrodes.17. The display device of claim 16, wherein each group of the firstgroup of electrodes, the second group of electrodes, and the third groupof electrodes further includes a sixth electrode disposed between thefourth electrode and the fifth electrode, and the first group of signallines further includes: a fifth signal line electrically connecting thesixth electrode of the first group of electrodes with the sixthelectrode of the second group of electrodes and being disposed at onlyone side of the first to third groups of electrodes; and a sixth signalline electrically connecting the sixth electrode of the second group ofelectrodes with the sixth electrode of the third group of electrodes andbeing disposed at only another side of the first to third groups ofelectrodes.
 18. The display device of claim 10 wherein the first sensingcolumn further includes signal lines that are independently connected toeach of the first to third electrodes.